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Reviews
The Invisible Man (2020)
Great minimalist horror film!
Ignore the naysayers. Especially the ones who whine about plot holes and character development. This is one tight little horror flick, where every shot held longer than expected, made me feel uneasy. A few breathtaking jump scares, and a nice, satisfying twist at the end. This is the best horror movie I've seen this year. Writer/director Leigh Wannell is a genius!
Tenet (2020)
Can't recommend
It's like Inception, only more confusing. I should have known going in that this movie was going to play with my mind, questioning reality, like a narrative Mobius strip. Like Inception, like Interstellar. The overbearing soundtrack and characters in oxygen masks muffling dialogue didn't help.
Beautiful scenery, clever set pieces, great performances and suspenseful action sequences aside, this was one of the most frustrating film experiences I've ever had. I will not watch it again.
Fireproof (2008)
Another low-budget, faith-based, film...with a resounding message
Kudos to the Kendrick Brothers, Sherwood Baptist Church, and Kirk Cameron for taking potentially off-putting, mediocre material and turning it into a well-crafted film with a life-changing message! Yes, the film suffers at times from awkward scripting and less than Oscar-caliber performances, but overall, "Fireproof" is a wonderfully rich, rewarding emotional and spiritual experience that should not be missed by most couples. Hats off to the Kendricks for including a couple of twists that one would not expect in a film such as this.
The action sequences are especially well-done, and, as difficult as it is to admit, I saw myself in Cameron's ferocious husband in the early scenes. In fact, Cameron elevates the material just by being in this film and embracing the material with all his heart. His performance is a revelation and makes the film's resolution even more emotionally satisfying than it could have been.
I look forward to including this in my DVD collection, right next to "Facing the Giants", and sharing it with others.
3:10 to Yuma (2007)
Awesome film!
Either Hollywood really hates Westerns, or this movie was just too good for them. How else to explain them completely ignoring this film's performances (Crowe, Bale, Fonda, Foster), story, direction and cinematography with Academy Award nominations? Forget "Unforgiven" and "Dances with Wolves". This is the best Western to come out in the last twenty years...period! Mangold and company have not only improved on the original, they have surpassed it in overall quality and, sadly, made the original appear dated and irrelevant.
This re-imagining of "3:10 to Yuma" is truly a classic, hitting all the clichés of previous Westerns, but adding its own modern twists and providing a moral weight I haven't seen in years. This is a "soft" R film. Relatively mild and infrequent profanity and graphic but not gratuitous violence.
This is truly a bargain at any video store, since it didn't do so well in theaters and, because of this, prices lower than most of the crap Hollywood turns out. Do not miss this film!
Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)
All-time favorite film!
"You wanna know a secret?...You're a much stronger player than I was at your age."
This last line of "Searching for Bobby Fischer" so eloquently defines for me the entire film. "Searching" has been accurately described as the "best sports film about a non-sport." Of course, the sports aspect is provided by the discovery of Josh Waitzkin's talent for chess early in the film, the development of this gift and its release in the grit of Washington Square and the many tournaments Josh inhabits throughout the film.
And yet...if there is a more self-less portrayal of a "sports" hero in a film, I have yet to see it. You see, unlike the title character, Josh is just an average, likable, sports-loving kid who happens to excel at rocket science...er, chess. He loves his Mom & Dad, his friends and the homeless guys he meets everyday in the park, oblivious to their abuse of controlled substances. And he wants to be loved in return, just like any other seven-year-old.
So he strives for friendship, even among his chess-competing peers, and the love of the adults in his life. When you stop to think about it, this is really more about the ADULTS who learn to change and accept this "decent" boy (in his mother's words), rather than the boy who displays more maturity, sportsmanship and compassion than people more than three times his age! Of course, there's the obligatory "final championship" game, in which, to win, Josh must face his fears, personified in the evil chess boy, and Bobby Fischer wanna-be, Jonathan Poe. But by now, we realize this film is NOT all about winning and losing. And that brings me to the line I began this review with. As much as we rejoice with Josh in his victory, this actually pales in comparison with what he does in the final scene. Because Josh is now secure in is Dad's love and the respect and admiration of his chess teacher, he is free to show love and compassion to his best friend by cheering him up and saying something that is both poignant and hilarious, considering how close in age they are.
"Searching for Bobby Fischer" is the film by which I actually measure all other sports films. Would that they all handled the subjects of sportsmanship and love in so eloquent a manner. What a great movie!
The Terminal (2004)
Very quiet, awesome movie
The first time I realized how good this movie is is when I forgot I was watching Tom Hanks, the actor I've seen in a hundred other roles, and realized I was watching one of the best movie characters I'd ever seen. There are no weird "Shyamalan" twists or turns, no gigantic earth-shaking reveals at the end of the film. Just a fun, gentle story, well-told, with a soft, audience-pleasing ending. After all, Viktor Navorsky's held our rooting interest through the entire film. Why shouldn't he (and we) get what we want?
And talk about supporting players...Stanley Tucci's Dixon is a wonderful airport administrator I loved to hate, and several of the day-workers, even some of the cops, who become his friends, make this a funny and sentimental fairy tale worthy of Spielberg's talents. The only downside is Catherine Zeta-Jones' character. As a romantic interest, she is so dysfunctional a person that I could not root for their romance to succeed. She is poison to Viktor, but he doesn't discover this until the end.
Still, this is a great film of discovery. Viktor discovers America from inside an airport terminal, we get a glimpse of a great character as he learns to understand our culture and communicate his needs. And we get to discover just what's so important about that Planters Peanuts can Viktor carries around.
Firefly: Our Mrs. Reynolds (2002)
Best episode of the series
Without question, the best episode in the entire "Firefly" series! (See it and "Trash" back-to-back - excellent bookends!) By turns, hilarious, poignant and scary - and back to hilarious again - this is the episode that should be studied intently by all serious television writers.
You will never predict at the beginning of the episode exactly where it will end up. We are introduced by the (apparently) helpless waif named Sapphron, who is used by her rustic kinfolk to ingratiate herself to Capt. Reynolds as his new wife, as a reward for his kindness to them.
Things go south very quickly when Reynolds does not reciprocate the same feelings toward Sapphron as she demonstrates toward him. And his embarrassment and frustration is a source of constant amusement and bewilderment to the rest of the crew.
But things are not all that they seem...Go - watch and enjoy; I only envy the fact that I cannot have the same pleasure you will have by watching it for the first time all over again!
Firefly: The Message (2003)
Heartfelt and poignant
I couldn't disagree with the previous disappointed critic more. Continuity errors aside, I felt the story was perfectly balanced between humor, suspense and pathos, especially in its final moments. Yes, Jayne is funny throughout, but he perfectly counterbalances the more serious moments - particularly the betrayal by Mal and Zoe's friend - in the latter half. And for once, it's nice to see someone other than River and Simon bear the brunt of Jayne and Mal's hostility.
Plus, for those blessed enough to catch this one on DVD, Alan Tudyk and Jewel Staite provide a humorous running commentary on the story and all the behind-the-scenes happenings during while this episode was shot. The final sequence is made more touching considering this is everyone's "goodbye" to the series.
Lonely Hearts (2006)
Compelling yet repulsive film
I checked this film out at the Jacksonville Film Festival last weekend, and I've been thinking about it ever since. On the one hand, I can say I'm proud to live in the city where such a brilliantly directed and photographed film was made; on the other, this is a film I don't believe I ever need to watch again.
The performances of all the principal players - particularly Travolta, Gandolfini, Dern, Leto and Hayek - are amazing, brilliant, utterly believable, etc. The set and costume design, and cinematography are by themselves worthy of at least Academy Award nominations. And the story (based on real events, although I'm sure much was fictionalized), is both riveting and repulsive.
Salma Hayek stands out particularly for her portrayal of the seductive, depraved and sadistic Martha Beck, one half of the brutal "Lonely Hearts" killers. She should come with her own tag line, "If looks could kill..." Hayek's interpretation of this character is the polar opposite of Charlize Theron's in "Monster," but no less effective. I'm thinking that if Ms. Theron's work in that film deserved an Oscar, then Ms. Hayek deserves no less for the amazing way she makes her "beautiful butcher" completely believable.
Without spoiling the plot, let me just provide this advisory. If brutal, bloody murders, suicides, explicit (non-erotic) sexuality, and the constant dropping of the "F-bomb" - not in a sexual way - are not your thing, then you may want to skip this film. It's not a date movie or a chick flick by any means, despite the romantic come-on in the title. The film is almost completely devoid of humor; humor would seem inappropriate in this context.
Although justice is apparently served - this is revealed at the very beginning of the film - no one will walk away from this film feeling very uplifted by what they will have just seen.
Firefly (2002)
This series should NEVER have been canceled!
I never caught this outstanding series on its first go-round on the Sci-Fi Channel. In fact, my first exposure at all was watching the enormously engaging movie, "Serenity," on DVD. Since then, I've watched almost all the episodes on a borrowed copy of the new DVD box set, and believe me, this is one of the best reasons to own a DVD player I can think of! The entire premise of an old-timey western series combined with space opera is quirky and interesting enough to catch an episode or two. But its the wonderfully witty dialogue and the intricate interpersonal relationships among the crew that make this series soar past ANYTHING ever achieved by "Star Trek," "Battlestar Gallactica," et al. Those series, by comparison, feel absolutely quaint and antiquated.
Rent, borrow or steal this series from a friend, but by all means - watch it!
Vowellet: An Essay by Sarah Vowell (2005)
A great surreal addition to "The Incredibles" DVD
I never heard of Sarah Vowell before watching this little doc in the Behind the Scenes extras of The Incredibles. I almost never listened to public radio either. But after listening to Ms. Vowell's dry, sarcastic and self-deprecating wit in this short, I was absolutely charmed. Funny, intimate, educational - Listen as she pontificates eloquently about Abe Lincoln and introduces him to her Violet action figures - and WEIRD! Now I'm in the middle of reading her most recent book, "Assassination Vacation," and I've listened to an interview with her on National Public Radio. I've never heard anyone make the subject of death so funny.
A Ninja Pays Half My Rent (2003)
better than the average short film
I've never seen a short film that has been made by someone so obviously qualified to direct features. Photography, music, editing and story are so tight and so appropriately used for GREAT comedic effect, I can't wait to see what Mr. Tsuchida plans to do next (something about Haiku and Spam, I think). It's five minutes of surreal comedy about a guy who tragically loses a roommate - Think along the lines of the drummers in "Spinal Tap" - only to get another one who can "kill people with his bare hands." Only shortcoming is it could have gone a bit longer, but at least it doesn't overstay its welcome, unlike some films. Depending on where you look on the web, you should be able to download it for free. It's worth looking for.